For those wondering how the new dirt track in Morgan County, which will race on Sunday nights, might affect Quincy Raceways' late model car count, the answer is simple.

It won't.

The quarter-mile facility located east of Alexander is being built by the Sheppards (Steve Sr. and Steve Jr.) and will be sanctioned by United Midwestern Promoters (UMP). Quincy will begin its 12th year as an IMCA track next April. Different rules, different cars.

I just wish the Morgan County track was running on a different evening. It would be nice to see some of the cars it is bound to attract on a regular basis, but my heart belongs to 8000 Broadway..

The Alexander track is supposed to seat 3,500 when all the bleachers are assembled. The Sheppards said in story in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier the track will run April to October.

Late models will be the marquee class at the new facility. Expect the track to get a UMP Summernationals date.

No word yet on what the other support series will be.

Jason Frankel is going to have a difficult time duplicating his 2008 late model racing season. Track championships at Quincy and West Burlington, an IMCA national title, a Deery Brothers Summer Series tour victory — and a Stevie Dirt Regional Rankings crown. What more could a guy ask for?

So it's no great revelation Frankel is the inaugural Stevie Dirt Late Model Driver of the Year. But what I find most interesing about Frankel's season are two things:

1. He Came, He Saw, He Conquered: Frankel was the target of much preseason hype, but he never let it detour him. He accomplished everything — and then some — expected of him. Not once did he ever show any signs of wilting under the pressure.

2. Problems? What problems?: Frankel's championship runs were not without mishap, however. There were engine woes and other mechanical problems at different points, but he simply considered those part of the overall equation and never used any as an excuse if things were not going well for a week or two. 

Hopefully, what we have in the making for the next decade or so is a dandy rivalry between Frankel and 14-time track champ Mark Burgtorf. And don't forget to throw in the likes of Lonnie Bailey, Denny Woodworth and a host of young guns headed by Justin Reed.

We may very well be entering the golden era of late model racing at the Broadway Bullring.

STEVIE DIRT DRIVER OF THE YEAR PROFILE: JASON FRANKEL

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 556, 1st
Total victories: 11, 2nd
Feature victories: 5, 2nd
Second places: 3
Heat victories: 4, 3rd-tie
Top 5s (points races): 10, 1st-tie
Top 10s (points races): 14-1st
Feature points: 542, 1st
Second-half points: 349, 2nd
Heat points: 14, 6th-tie
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 164, 2nd
Driver Dominance Index: .862, 1st
Driver Dependability: .896, 6th
Feature laps led: 129, 1st
Notable: Before
this season, the last time Frankel raced full-time at Quincy was 1997.
He finished second to Mark Burgtorf that year. This time around the
roles were reversed.
Comment: The last driver not named
Burgtorf to win back-to-back track titles was Steve Fraise (1989-90).
Frankel will try and add his name to that list in 2009.

STEVIE DIRT ALL-DIRT FIRST ROW: Mark Burgtorf, Justin Reed

Mark Burgtorf

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 531, 2nd
Total victories: 18, 1st
Feature victories: 6, 1st
Second places: 3
Heat victories: 7, 1st
Top 5s (points races): 10, 1st-tie
Top 10s (points races): 12, 2nd
Feature points: 514, 2nd
Second-half points: 354, 1st
Heat points: 17, 3rd
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 211, 1st
Dominance Index: .823, 2nd
Driver Dependability: .943, 2nd-tie
Feature laps led: 96, 2nd
Notable: For
the math geeks in the crowd, you may note Burgtorf finished 25 points
behind Frankel. You may also remember Burgtorf missed a points weekend
early in the season. Burgorf averaged 37.9 points on the points weeks he was there. Add that average on to his final point total. Interesting, eh?
Comment: The last time Burgtorf went back-to-back seasons without a track championship was … never.

Justin Reed

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 515, 3rd
Total victories: 4, 9th-tie
Feature victories: 1, 5th-tie
Second places: 2
Heat victories: 3, 6th-tie
Top 5s (points races): 6, 3rd
Top 10s (points races): 9, 5th-tie
Feature points: 503, 3rd
Second-half points: 314. 3rd
Heat points: 12, NR
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 102, 4th
Driver Dominance Index: .799, 3rd
Driver Dependability: .943, 2nd-tie
Feature laps led: 43, 4th
Notable: Reed is the No. 9-ranked driver in the IMCA era (since 1998) and has a golden opportunity to climb higher in 2009.
Comment: It
will be interesting — if the opportunity presents itself — to see if
Reed opts for double duty again in '09. He showed he knows how to
handle a modified, too, driving Tony Dunker's second car full-time the
latter half of '08. Reed was sixth in second-half modiied points.

STEVIE DIRT ALL-DIRT SECOND ROW: Lonnie Bailey, Jason Perry

Lonnie Bailey

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 492, 4th-tie
Total victories: 7, 4th-tie
Feature victories: 2, 4th
Second places: 0
Heat victories: 4, 3rd-tie
Top 5s (points races): 4, 5th-tie
Top 10s (points races): 10, 3rd-tie
Feature points: 478, 4th
Second-half points: 292, 6th
Heat points: 14, 6th-tie
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 59, 8th
Driver Dominance Index: .763, 4th-tie
Driver Dependability: .888, 7th
Feature laps led: 13, NR
Notable: The 2004 track champ is 67 track points shy of becoming the third driver in the IMCA era to reach 5,000 career points. Burgtorf and Denny Woodworth are the others.
Comment: Bailey may have provided a hint of what to expect in 2009 by winning two of the final five features at 8000 Broadway.

Jason Perry

Residence: Payson, Ill.
Track points: 492, 4th-tie
Total victories: 6, 5th-tie
Feature victories: 0
Second places: 0
Heat victories: 3, 6th-tie
Top 5s (points races): 1, NR
Top 10s (points races): 10, 3rd-tie
Feature points: 476, 5th
Second-half points: 293, 5th
Heat points: 16, 4th-tie
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 33, NR
Driver Dominance Index: .763, 4th-tie
Driver Dependability: .926, 5th
Feature laps led: 1, NR
Notable: Even though Perry failed to win a feature, his steady
diet of top finishes, particularly in the first half of the season, is
reflected in his fifth-place standing in the money won department. Only Burgtorf, Frankel, Reed and Bailey had bigger bank accounts.
Comment: Perry should be a title contender in '09. He has improved each year behind the wheel and looks ready to take the next step.

It’s hard to imagine anyone has ever put together more proficient back-to-back seasons than Michael Long in the storied history of Quincy Raceways.

What he accomplished in 2007-08 will be difficult to ever duplicate, yet alone surpass. He won 71 races, including 31 features. Seventy-one. Thirty-one. Say it out loud. Those are career numbers for many talented drivers, and Long accomplished those feats in two seasons. Oh, and back-to-back track championships, too.

It should be no secret Long is the Stevie Dirt Modified Driver of the Year. And he will be the preseason favorite in 2009 to repeat the honor if he opts to go for the hat trick. Personally, I hope he commits to running the Bullring full-time again, if for no other reason than to continue his assault on the record books.

Earlier this season it was said by one of our readers that Michael Long had become the Mark Burgtorf of the modifieds. That, I thought, was an accurate comment — maybe a little premature, but still a most sincere form of praise. I don’t think it would be a stretch to say Burgtorf is the "face" of Quincy Raceways for all he has accomplished, and I don’t think it’s out of the question that in another decade Long could receive equal billing among the list of the track’s all-time greats.

Long has the look — not to mention ability — of a great champion, in the same mold as Burgtorf, Steve Fraise, Hank DeLonjay and probably a few select others. One of the qualities of drivers of that ilk is they draw fans to the track, and speaking purely as a spectator, Michael Long is one of the drivers that brings me to the track every Sunday night between April and mid-September.

Selection of Driver of the Year was based on a variety of categories, including track points, Stevie Dirt regional rankings (applicable in the late model and modified classes) and a variety of statistical categories that have appeared in this space throughout the season.

Here’s a breakdown on Long and the other All-Dirt selections

STEVIE DIRT DRIVER OF THE YEAR PROFILE: MICHAEL LONG

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 563, 1st
Total victories: 35, 1st
Feature victories: 15, 1st
Second places: 1
Heat victories: 13, 1st
Top 5s (points races): 11
Top 10s (points races): 12
Feature points: 526, 3rd
Second-half points: 321, 5th
Heat points: 37, 1st
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 291, 1st
Driver Dominance Index: .873, 1st
Driver Dependability:  .898, 3rd
Feature laps led: 196, 1st
Notable: Long was also No. 1 in the final Stevie Dirt All-Regional Rankings, which encompassed five tracks in the Tri-State area.
Comment: Long now has the opportunity to join Hank DeLonjay and Sam Burgtorf as the only modified drivers in track history to win three or more consecutive track titles.

STEVIE DIRT ALL-DIRT FIRST ROW: Tony Dunker, Steven DeLonjay

Tony Dunker

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 562, 2nd
Total victories: 6, 6th
Feature victories: 0
Second places: 1
Heat victories: 5, 3rd-tie
Top 5s (points races): 10
Top 10s (points races): 14
Feature points: 540, 1st
Second-half points: 333, 2nd
Heat points: 22, 5th
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 93, 5th
Driver Dominance Index: .871, 2nd
Driver Dependability:  .841, 5th
Feature laps led: 0
Notable: Dunker now has three runner-up modified points finishes to go with his two track championships.
Comment: There’s no doubt No. 4 likes to trade a little paint at the Bullring, but he puts people in the stands to watch him race — myself included.

Steven DeLonjay

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 559, 3rd
Total victories: 8, 4th-tie
Feature victories: 1, 4th
Second places: 2
Heat victories: 4, 5th-tie
Top 5s (points races): 11
Top 10s (points races): 13
Feature points: 535, 2nd
Second-half points: 334, 1st
Heat points: 24, 3rd
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 134, 2nd
Driver Dominance Index: .867, 3rd
Driver Dependability:  .981, 1st
Feature laps led: 10, 10th
Notable: The kid’s 17 years old and he already has 37 career victories to his credit, not to mention coming within four points of this year’s modified championship.
Comment: I asked Tony Dunker about halfway through the season who the next great modified star at the track would be, and without hesitation he said, "Are you kidding? Steven DeLonjay." It would be hard to argue with that observation.

STEVIE DIRT ALL-DIRT SECOND ROW: Dave Wietholder, Robbie Reed

Dave Wietholder

Residence: Liberty, Ill.
Track points: 541, 4th
Total victories: 10, 2nd-tie
Feature victories: 2, 2nd-tie
Second places: 1
Heat victories: 4, 5th-tie
Top 5s (points races): 8
Top 10s (points races): 12
Feature points: 518, 4th
Second-half points: 329, 3rd
Heat points: 23, 4th
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 101, 4th
Driver Dominance Index: .839, 4th
Driver Dependability:  .886, 4th
Feature laps led: 39, 3rd
Notable: Wietholder is second in track points since 2006, the year the modifieds consolidated back into one class. The top three: Dunker (1,851), Wietholder (1,766) and Robbie Reed (1,756).
Comment: Wietholder deserves a special tip o’ the helmet for being an All-Dirt selection in two different series. He was a first-row pick in the stock car division.

Robbie Reed

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 399, 8th
Total victories: 8, 4th-tie
Feature victories: 2, 2nd-tie
Second places: 3
Heat victories: 5, 3rd-tie
Top 5s (points races): 7
Top 10s (points races): 8
Feature points: 380, 9th
Second-half points: 250, 10th
Heat points: 19, 6th
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 123, 3rd
Driver Dominance Index: .619, 8th
Driver Dependability: .706, 9th
Feature laps led: 32, 5th
Notable: Early season medical problems robbed the 2006 track champ of making a run at this year’s title. Next year should be different.
Comment: Since 2006, Reed has been one of the series’ most consistent performers, ranking in the top five of total victories, features won, heat victories and dashes won.

There are some new additions to the following lists. Clip, save and enjoy.

ILLINOIS

Belle-Clair Speedway (UMP) – Michael Kloos
Fairbury American Legion Speedway (UMP) – Daren Friedman
Farmer City Raceway (UMP) – Eric Smith
Highland Speedway (UMP) – Brian Bielong
La Salle Speedway (limited) – Keith Piano
Macomb Raceway – Terry Pratt
Macon Speedway (UMP) – Kyle Logue
Morgan County Speedway (UMP) – Jayme Zidar
Peoria Speedway – Todd Bennett
Quad City Raceway (IMCA) – Mike Murphy Jr.
Quincy Raceways (IMCA) – Jason Frankel
Spoon River Speedway (UMP) – Brian Allen
Spoon River Speedway (crate) – Brad Denney
Sycamore Speedway – Johnny Heath
Sycamore Speedway (limited) – Dave Radloff
Tri-City Speedway – Billy Faust
Tri-City Speedway (crate) – Bobby Dauderman

IOWA

34 Raceway (IMCA) – Jason Frankel
Adams County Speedway – Chris Spieker
Blackbird Bend Speedway (limited) – Jay Smith
Davenport Speedway (IMCA) – Mike Murphy Jr.
Dubuque Speedway (NASCAR) – Andy Eckrich
Dubuque Speedway (limited) – Brian Beaudry
Dubuque Speedway (IMCA) – Luke Goedert
Farley Speedway (NASCAR) – Brian Harris
Farley Speedway (limited) – Joel Callahan
Farley Speedway (IMCA) – Luke Goedert
Hamilton County Speedway (IMCA) – Todd Cooney
Independence Motor Speedway (IMCA) – Dale Hackwell Jr.
Iowa State Fair Speedway (IMCA) – Darrel DeFrance
Jackson County Speedway (IMCA) – Terry Neal
Lee County Speedway (IMCA) – Jay Johnson
Shelby County Speedway (IMCA) – Corey Zeitner
West Liberty Raceway (NASCAR) – Brian Harris
West Liberty Raceway (limited) – Brian VanDusen

MISSOURI

Adrian Speedway – Brian Pipes
Callaway Raceway (ULMA) – Darren Turner
Central Missouri Speedway (ULMA) – Jon Binning
Fredricktown Raceway (crate) – Shane Cockrum
I-55 Raceway (UMP) – Billy Faust
L.A. Raceway (ULMA) – Bryon Allison
Lake Ozark Speedway (crate) – Steve Beach
Lucas Oil Speedway (ULMA) – Rylan Long
Malden Speedway (crate) – Billy James
Monett Speedway (UMP) – Brad Looney
Nevada Speedway – Jack Simmons
Valley Speedway (ULMA) – Mike Ryun

Jeff Mueller earned more victories than any other stock car driver at Quincy Raceways, and ultimately that was the difference between first and second place in the championship standings.

Mueller will be always be the answer to the trivia question of which driver won the first stock car title at 8000 Broadway, but it was not easy accomplishment. No. 77 was locked in a point-for-point duel with Chris Wibbell the final month of the season, and when the two wound up in a dead heat with 626 points apiece it was Mueller’s penchant for collecting checkered flags that awarded him the crown.

Mueller had a decided edge in the all-important first tiebreaker — features won (9-1) — over Wibbell. The track championship, all of those feature wins and total victories were Mueller’s stepping stone(s) to earnng the inaugural Stevie Dirt Stock Car Driver of the Year. Mueller also had decided advantages in other categories, namely feature laps led and Herald-Whig Performance Points.

Selection of Driver of the Year was based on a variety of categories, plus Stevie Dirt regional rankings (applicable in the late model and modified classes) and a host of statistical data presented in this blog throughout the season.

Joining Mueller on this year’s stock car All-Dirt team are first-row selections Wibbell and Dave Wietholder, plus second-row picks Steve Steinkuhler and Doug Huls.

Aaron Brocksieck was named Driver of the Year in the hobby stock series last week.

Drivers of the Year and All-Dirt teams for the modified and late model divisions will be released in this space in the coming days.

Selection of Driver of the Year was based on a variety of categories, including track points, Stevie Dirt regional rankings (applicable in the late model and modified classes) and a host of statistical categories that have appeared in this space throughout the season.

Here’s a breakdown on Mueller and the other All-Dirt selections:

STEVIE DIRT DRIVER OF THE YEAR PROFILE: JEFF MUELLER

Residence: New London, Iowa
Track points: 626, 1st-tie
Total victories: 14, 1st
Feature victories: 9, 1st
Second places: 2
Heat victories: 5, 2nd
Top 5s: 12, 2nd
Top 10s: 14, 2nd
Feature points: Same as track points
Second-half points: 342, 1st
Heat points: Division not eligible
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 162, 1st
Driver Dominance Index: Division not eligible
Driver Dependability: .884, 3rd
Feature laps led: 162, 1st
Notable: Mueller’s banner season also included a runner-up finish at Lee County Speedway and a third-place at 34 Raceway. 
Comment: Mueller mounted his championship charge by winning four features in a five-week stretch from July 6 to Aug. 3.

STEVIE DIRT ALL-DIRT FIRST ROW: Chris Wibbell, Dave Wietholder

Chris Wibbell

Residence: Dallas City, Ill.
Track points: 626, 1st-tie
Total victories: 1, 11th-tie
Feature victories: 1, 4th-tie
Second places: 2
Heat victories: 0
Top 5s: 13, 1st
Top 10s: 17, 1st
Feature points: Same as track points
Second-half points: 331, 2nd
Heat points: Division not eligible
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 92, 6th
Driver Dominance Index: Division not eligible.
Driver Dependability: 1.000, 1st
Feature laps led: 18, 9th
Notable: I have never witnessed a driver in any class get as much out of "points racing" as Wibbell. It is amazing tha he won just one race (April 20 feature) the entire season, yet wound up tied for the points title, losing on the tiebreaker to Mueller on the strength of most features won.
Comment: Wibbell is a living, breathing reminder of what it means to keep your car on the track. He completed every feature lap this season, the only driver in any class to do that. Those extra points he earned by never being in the pits when the checkered flag was dropped showed up at the end of the year.

Dave Wietholder

Residence: Liberty, Ill.
Track points: 585, 3rd
Total victories: 7, 3rd
Feature victories: 3, 2nd
Second places: 1
Heat victories: Division not eligible
Top 5s: 7, 6th-tie
Top 10s: 13, 3rd-tie
Feature points: Same as track points
Second-half points: 325, 3rd
Heat points:
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 117, 2nd
Driver Dominance Index: Division not eligible.
Driver Dependability: .816, 5th
Feature laps led:
Notable: Wietholder was the only driver at the track to manage a top-five points finish in two separate classes. He was fourth in the modified standings. 
Comment: Wietholder’s only track championship came as a bomber driver in 2001. That may change next year. He’s more than capable of winning this division and/or challenging Michael Long in the modifieds

STEVIE DIRT ALL-DIRT SECOND ROW: Steve Steinkuhler, Doug Huls

Steve Steinkuhler

Residence: Camp Point, Ill.
Track points: 576, 4th
Total victories: 2, 7th-tie
Feature victories: 1, 4th-tie
Second places: 1
Heat victories: 1, 10th-tie
Top 5s: 7, 6th-tie
Top 10s: 13, 3rd-tie
Feature points: Same as track points
Second-half points: 306, 4th
Heat points: Division not eligible
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 58, 7th
Driver Dominance Index: Division not eligible
Driver Dependability: .832, 4th
Feature laps led: 24, 5th
Notable: Illinois drivers won just five of 18 features. Steinkuhler, Wietholder and Wibbell were the only Illinois hotshoes to earn a checkered flag. 
Comment: Steinkuhler struggled the first half of the season, but but by the end of the year had established himself as one of the top five drivers in the series.

Doug Huls

Residence: Carthage, Ill.
Track points: 567, 5th
Total victories: 4, 5th-tie
Feature victories: 0
Second places: 3
Heat victories: 4, 3rd-tie
Top 5s: 9, 4th-tie
Top 10s: 10, 7th
Feature points: Same as track points
Second-half points: 304, 5th
Heat points: Division not eligible
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 95, 4th
Driver Dominance Index: Division not eligible.
Driver Dependability: ,680, 10th-tie
Feature laps led: 14, 9th
Notable: Huls finished sixth in points at Lee County. 
Comment: Huls was one of the hottest drivers in the series the final six weeks. He could be a dark horse title threat in 2009.

The offseason was barely 10 minutes old Sunday evening when word of the first change for 2009 at Quincy Raceways was made public.

Doug Miller, the veteran chief steward at the track who has had two tours of duty in that position, will be returning to his first love next spring — serving as a tech man in the pits. Miller’s decision to switch positions was not a surprise. He had been hinting at such a move for some time. In addition, being chief steward at a local dirt track is probably the most thankless job outside of the Oval Office.

Taking over Miller’s spot in the press box and making the calls no one else wants to make will be Jake Croxton, who is now a lock to grow old before his time.

Croxton looks to be a good fit for this always-controversial hot seat. He served in the same role this season at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. Croxton has worked at Quincy the past two years in a variety of roles and is well-versed in all aspects of track operations.

MODIFIEDS ESTABLISH RECORDS FOR CAUTIONS

The modifieds went out with a bang Sunday night, causing 18 yellow flags. In the process, they esablished two records.

A dozen of those cautions came in the feature, which broke the track record for all series since those kind of numbers started being tracked in 2004. The previous feature mark was 10 by the modifieds on May 28, 2006, and by the late models on July 3, 2005.

The mods’ 10.9 average per show this season is also a record, shattering the 9.8 figure in 2007, which also belonged to the modifieds.

Here are the overall caution leaders the last five years:

2008: Modifieds, 10.9
2007: Modifieds, 9.8
2006: Modifieds, 7.8
2005: Late models, 6.1
2004: "B" modifieds, 6.1

FINAL CAR COUNT AVERAGES

The late models have now averaged 20 or more cars per show for four straight seasons. This year’s final average was 20.4. There were 15 in the pits Sunday night.

The modifieds ended the season averaging 23 cars per show. That’s up from 2007 (22) and 2006 (19), the first two years after the former "A" and "B" modifieds were combined into one class. There were 30 modifieds on hand Sunday.

The hobby stocks (14) were down slightly from 2007 (15), the first year for that series after 20 years being known as "bombers."

The first-year stock cars averaged 14.

Trackwise, the weekly norm was 67, down from 2007 (69).

Here’s a look at the last five years:

Late models

2008: 20
2007: 22
2006: 25
2005: 20
2004: 17

Modifieds

2008: 23
2007: 22
2006: 19

"A" modifieds
2005: 14
2004: 15

"B" modifieds
2005: 13
2004: 18

Hobby stocks

2008: 14
2007: 15
2006: 21 (Bombers)
2005: 20 (Bombers)
2004: 23 (Bombers)

Stock cars

2008: 14

FASTEST FEATURE LAPS

Late Models

April 6: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill., 67.916 mph
April 20: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill., 70.091 mph
April 27: Robby Warner, Quincy, Ill., 65.414 mph
April 30: Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun, Iowa, 63.300 mph
May 4: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill., 65.010 mph
May 18: Kevin Tomlinson, New London, Mo., 66.624 mph
June 1: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill., 69.125 mph
June 8: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill., 62.276 mph
June 10: ED DIXON, WASHINGTON, MO., 72.430 mph (UMP RECORD)
June 22: Kevin Tomlinson, New London, Mo., 65.446 mph
June 29: Terry Neal, Ely, Iowa, 68.752 mph
July 6: Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill., 68.875 mph
July 13: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill., 65.116 mph
July 20: Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill., 69.809 mph
AUG. 3 (July 27 makeup): Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill., 71.394 mph
Aug. 3: Nick Ingalls, Quincy, Ill., 67.117 mph
Aug. 10: Sam Halstead, New London, Iowa, 67.911 mph
Aug. 17: Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill., 68.635 mph
Aug. 24: Jerry Weisenberger, Quincy, Ill., 68.513 mph
Aug. 31: JASON FRANKEL, QUINCY, ILL., 72.717 mph (IMCA RECORD)
Sept. 21: Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill., 70.185 mph
Oct. 5: Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill., 66.833 mph

Fast laps

Mark Burgtorf, 6
Jason Frankel, 2
Lonnie Bailey, 2
Sam Halstead, 1
Denny Woodworth, 1
Nick Ingalls, 1
Justin Reed, 1
Kevin Tomlinson, 1
Robby Warner, 1
Tom Darbyshire, 1
Ed Dixon, 1
Terry Neal, 1
Jerry Weisenberger, 1

Modifieds

April 6: Dave Wietholder, Liberty, Ill., 67.037 mph
APRIL 20: MICHAEL LONG, QUINCY, ILL., 69.735 mph (RECORD)
April 27: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 63.480 mph
May 4:  Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 62.239 mph
May 18: Michael Long, Quincy Ill., 65.189 mph
June 1: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 67.810 mph
June 10: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 69.125 mph
June 22 (June 8 makeup): Jared Schlipman, Mendon, Ill., 64.889 mph
June 22: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 61.221 mph
June 29: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 63.975 mph
July 6: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 65.586
July 6 (River City Rumble): Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 66.582
July 13: Joe Hooper, Mendon, Ill., 64.230 mph
July 20: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 67.529 mph
Aug. 3: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 68.009 mph
Aug. 10 (July 27 makeup): Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 68.124 mph
Aug. 10: Robbie Reed, Quincy, Ill., 60.825 mphA
Aug. 17: Steven DeLonjay, Quincy, Ill., 62.273 mph
Aug. 24: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 64.369 mph
Aug. 31: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 67.863 mph
Oct. 5: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill., 64.175 mph

Fast laps

Michael Long, 16
Steven DeLonjay, 1
Robbie Reed, 1
Jared Schlipman, 1
Dave Wietholder, 1
Joe Hooper, 1

FEATURE WINNERS

Late models

April 6: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.
April 20: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.
April 27: Robby Warner, Quincy, Ill.
April 30: Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.
May 4: Keith Pratt, Mendon, Ill.
May 18: Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.
June 1: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.
June 8: Dustin Griffin, Quincy, Ill.
June 10: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.
June 22: Kevin Tomlinson, New London, Mo.
June 29: Terry Neal, Ely, Iowa
July 6: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.
July 13: Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.
July 20: Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 3 (July 27 makeup): Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.
Aug. 3: Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.
Aug. 10: Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 17 Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 24: Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 31: Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.
Sept. 21: Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.
Oct. 5: Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.

Feature laps led:

Jason Frankel, 129
Mark Burgtorf, 96
Kevin Tomlinson, 62
Terry Neal, 46
Sam Halstead, 36
Keith Pratt, 33
Robby Warner, 30
Matt Bailey, 29
Dustin Griffin, 26
Denny Woodworth, 25
Nick Ingalls, 25
Terry Gallaher 20
Justin Reed, 18
Ron Elbe, 15
Lonnie Bailey 13
Jerry Weisenberger, 8
Jason Perry, 1

Modifieds

April 6: Dave Wietholder, Liberty, Ill.
April 20: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
April 27: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
April 30: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
May 4: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
May 18: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
June 1: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
June 10: Ken Schrader, Concord, Ill.
June 22 (June 8 makeup): Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
June 22: Robbie Reed, Quincy, Ill.
June 29: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
July 6: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.,
July 6 (River City Rumble): Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
July 13: Dave Wietholder, Liberty, Ill.
July 20: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 3: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 10 (July 27 makeup): Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 10: Robbie Reed, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 17: Steven DeLonjay, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 24: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
Aug. 31: Michael Long, Quincy, Ill.
Oct. 5: Donovan Lodge, Moline, Ill.

Feature laps led:

Michael Long, 196
Jared Schlipman, 57
Dave Wietholder, 39
Donovan Lodge, 34
Robbie Reed, 32
Justin Reed 24
Todd Reed, 20
Adam Birck, 15
Brandon Lennox, 12
Steven DeLonjay, 10
Justin Reed, 8
Vance Wilson, 6
Wyatt Lantz, 6
Rob Carter, 5
Shawn Deering, 4
Jeff Waterman, 4
Joe Bliven, 3 

More than anything else, it was Aaron Brocksieck’s consistency that eventually separated him from the rest of the hobby stock division at Quincy Raceways.

The consistency that saw him produce more top-five and top-10 performances than any driver in the series also propelled him to the first Stevie Dirt Hobby Stock Driver of the Year award.

Brocksieck, 32, who clinched his first track championship Aug. 24 following a late-season duel with Wes Mayfield, is also the headliner of the inaugural Hobby Stock All-Dirt team that features four other drivers distinguished by first- and second-row selections. (That’s right, first and second "rows," not first and second "teams." This isn’t football, it’s racing.)

Drivers of the Year and All-Dirt teams for the stock car, modified and late model divisions will also appear in this space in the coming days.

Selection of Driver of the Year was based on a variety of categories, including track points, Stevie Dirt regional rankings (applicable in the late model and modified classes) and a host of statistical categories that have appeared in this space throughout the season.

Beyond the raw numbers, the most impressive item about Brocksieck was his ability to stay out of trouble and finish races. All of those top fives add up over the course of a five-month Sunday night grind.

STEVIE DIRT DRIVER OF THE YEAR PROFILE: AARON BROCKSIECK

Residence: Camp Point, Ill.
Track points: 577, 1st
Total victories: 9, 2nd
Feature victories: 4, 1st-tie
Second places: 2
Heat victories: 5, 4th-tie
Top 5s: 11, 1st
Top 10s: 15, 1st-tie
Feature points: 553, 1st-tie
Second-half points: 350, 2nd
Heat points: 24, 4th
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 134, 4th
Driver Dominance Index: .895, 1st
Driver Dependability: .975, 1st
Feature laps led: 35, 5th
Notable: This was Brocksieck’s third season in the series, and he improved each season. He was ninth in points in 2006 and third in 2007 before his breakthrough campaign.
Comment: If Brocksieck returns to hobby stocks in 2009 he’ll be the favorite to make it two titles in a row, but don’t be surprised to see him in a stock car next spring.

STEVIE DIRT ALL-DIRT FIRST ROW: Wes Mayfield, Steve Carlin

Wes Mayfield

Residence: Hull, Ill.
Track points: 576, 2nd
Total victories: 7, 5th-tie
Feature victories: 4, 1st-tie
Second places: 3
Heat victories: 3, 6th
Top 5s: 10, 2nd-tie
Top 10s: 14, 3rd
Feature points: 553, 1st-tie
Second-half points: 353, 1st
Heat points: 23, 5th
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 141, 3rd
Driver Dominance Index: .893, 2nd
Driver Dependability: .917, 3rd
Feature laps led: 22, 7th
Notable: Mayfield won both the midseason and season championship races, but missed the track title by one point. If he would have added a track championship to those other accomplishments he would have been the first "triple crown" winner in this division since Dave Wietholder in 2001.
Comment: This was Mayfield’s first full season in the series in 11 years and he comes THAT close to a championship. What will the second time around hold?

Steve Carlin

Residence: Hannibal, Mo.
Track points: 565, 3rd
Total victories: 8, 3rd-tie
Feature victories: 2, 5th-tie
Second places: 2
Heat victories: 6, 2nd-tie
Top 5s: 9, 4th-tie
Top 10s: 15, 1st-tie
Feature points: 537, 3rd
Second-half points: 340, 3rd
Heat points: 28, 2nd
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 123, 5th
Driver Dominance Index: .876, 3rd
Driver Dependability: .969, 2nd
Feature laps led: 55, 2nd-tie
Notable: By Carlin’s standards, this was an off season, but he will enter 2009 when the opportunity to overtake — or at least move within striking distance of — series legend Eddie Dieker in some notable career categories. Carlin now trails Dieker in total victories (91-73), feature wins (39-27), heat victories (51-45) and career points (5,731-4,846).
Comment: Not only did Carlin’s feature victory total tumble from 12 to 2, he went almost five months between checkered flags. He won on April 6 and did not finish first again until Aug. 31

STEVIE DIRT ALL-DIRT SECOND ROW: James Leffew, Jim Powell

James Leffew

Residence: Quincy, Ill.
Track points: 511, 6th
Total victories: 10, 1st
Feature victories: 4, 1st-tie
Second places: 3
Heat victories: 6, 2nd-tie
Top 5s: 10, 2nd-tie
Top 10s: 12, 4th-tie
Feature points: 485, 7th
Second-half points: 319, 5th
Heat points: 26, 3rd
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 163, 1st
Driver Dominance Index: .792, 6th
Driver Dependability: .868, 4th
Feature laps led: 73, 1st
Notable: Leffew tied for the series lead in feature victories, had the most total wins and missed by one heat victory of topping that category.
Comment: Once Leffew develops the consistency of a Brocksieck or Mayfield, he may be unstoppable.

Jim Powell

Residence: Hannibal, Mo.
Track points: 535, 4th
Total victories: 8, 3rd-tie
Feature victories: 3, 4th
Second places: 3
Heat victories: 5, 4th-tie
Top 5s: 9, 4th-tie
Top 10s: 12, 4th-tie
Feature points: 523, 4th
Second-half points: 328, 4th
Heat points: 12, 6th
Herald-Whig Performance Points: 161, 2nd
Driver Dominance Index: .816, 5th
Driver Dependability: .807, 5th
Feature laps led: 55, 2nd-tied
Notable: Powell’s fourth-place points finish was his best-ever in this series, topping a fifth place in 1999.
Comment: Powell tinkered for a few years in the modifieds, but this is the series where he is strongest and demonstrated that in the second half of the season.